The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-31
A TURKS PLEASURES.
The Favorite Amusement Of an
Oriental People.
The Three Public Recreations
Which They Prefer.

The traits of a people may often be
judged as correctly from their pleasures
and recreations, as from their history
and serious conduct. In the 6sedom of
the idle, pleasure-sceking hours, a PEG
pie wilt betray whether they are imagin-
alive or matter-of-fact whether they are
gentle or rough, whether they are sober
or buoyant of spirit.
1t is usual to find that a people who
dwell in rugged. inhospitable lands, in
regions of storm and gloomy skies pre-
fer amusements which are hardy and ac-
tive; while those who dwell in softer,
SUMMER chimes enjoy themselves in mild
n %recreations.
The old French chronicler, Froissart,
observed, when in England, that the
English s'took their pleasures very
sadly" The English, and especially
the Scotch, dwelling as they do in a
capricious climate, are noted for the
ruggedness and hardihood of their
sports. The buoyaucy and gayety Of
the French character, on the other
hand, are strikingly reflected in the
lightness and sparkle which appear in
all their favorite pastimes.
The recreations of Oriental people are
more interesting, because less familiar
to us than those of the Western people,
and afford quite as reliable 9 key to
national character.
A recent sojourner in Turkey has
given a very entertaining account of the
ways in which the subjects of the Sultan
beguile their many idle hours. The
Turks are an indolent people. The Ian
guor Of their beautiful climate renders
them prone to take the world easily, to
have frequent holidays, and to enjoy
pleasures which soothe rather than ex-
cite.
The principal public %recreations of
the Turks are three. One is, to witness
the burlesque acting of a company of
men who do not use any stage for their
performances, but issue forth from be-
hind a single screen. These players go
about from place to place, erect their
scrcenin the open air and give their
performances before the motley ckad1
of the turbaned idlers who gather
around them.
Another fayoritc amusement is what
the writer referred tdlcalls the Turkish
Punch and judy This show, however
is given by means of hadows cast upon
a white sheet. The EFFECT of tn $ is
very weird and striking,
The third public recreation is the
gathering in the streets, or on the open
spaces, to listen to the thrilling tales of
the .'meddahs, or professional story
tellers. The meddahs take the place, in
Turkey, Of lecturers in America. They
relate the most exciting stories, with
many emphatic gestures, contortions of
the face, and modulations of the voice.
They sit ins the middle of an attentive
circle, and often rouse their hearers to a
high pitch of breathless interest and
excitement by then dramatic powers of
narration.
p The Turkish women are allowed to
witness the burlesque acting; but they
are forbidden to be present at the Punch
and Judy shows, and at the story-tell-
ing Of the meddahs. The women,
moreover, are not permitted to attend
the theatres and opera-houses.
Like all 0rientals, the Turks are very
fond of music and of dancing. But
Their airs, musical instruments and
dances are entirely different from those
of Western Europe. They partake very
much Of the nature Of the race as seen
in other ways. The Turkish music to
Western ears, sounds soft, melodioas and
The Turks, on the other
hand, regard European music as too
loud, boisterous and confused IN sound.
a choir, or an orchestra, ia Turkey, all
sing and play tho air only.
The Turks ike ceremony, and all their
recreations are pursued in a sedatc,
quiet, ceremonions way. The mu3i-
clans, dancers, story-telIers are ushered
before and away from their audiences
with iourishes and ~obeisances, and are
rewarded with much solemnity of de-
meanor.
There are very few recreations in
Turkey, in which men and ONE are
allowed to take part id common. When
both sexes rfitness thcsame performance,
the women always sit in 4 group behind
q screen or thick lattice, SO that they can
witness what IS going forward without
seeing, Of being seen BY the men. But
ii this case, the best point from which
to view the performance Is accorded to
tbs women. youths Companion.
IN EngEfsb Ion.
tt wa a queer, quaint little hostelsy,